Special Report

Second Call Defense Member Incident

by Trent Marsh

"I just shot a kid."

Words nobody wants to say.

When a 72-year-old man we'll call “Gary Russell,” left work on his bicycle to go home, I doubt he thought he would be saying those words. Sean Maloney of Second Call Defense certainly wasn't expecting to hear those words when his phone rang at five that evening, but that's how the call started.

"I just shot a kid."

Carrying Concealed While Hunting

by Trent Marsh

It's dark. You're alone.

You hear a noise to your left, not far away. It sounded like a footstep.

Are you in some dark alley, or a vacant parking lot behind the mall?

No. You're on your way to your tree stand.

Hunting typically requires getting off the beaten path. Accessing remote areas without much foot traffic is perfect when in search of game. It's also a highly desirable area for meth labs, marijuana grow operations, and in some parts of the country, illegal whiskey stills.

Second Amendment Exceptionalism

by Drew Beatty

In America around dinner tables, hunting cabins and on blogs like this one, we talk about firearms. If you are anything like me — and you probably are if you're reading articles on this site — firearms, ammunition, hunting, calibers and cartridges, gun handling tactics and techniques, and target practice are a regular part of life. We hardly think it's exceptional, but it is very special and unique that we have the option of living as we do.

A Second Look at Defensive Choices

by Keith Coniglio

Judging Gun Owners

by Keith Coniglio

As I opined in an earlier piece, there is no such thing as "the gun owner." We're a varied lot with differing opinions, motivations, and attitudes towards guns and our Second Amendment. But we have one unifying quality, often overlooked by many: we are hated or misunderstood by a significant number of our fellow citizens.

The Criminal Interview in Real Life

by Drew Beatty

After reading an excellent and informative blog post about how criminals use questions to set up an attack by Second Call Defense contributor Greg Ellifritz, I was reminded of an "interview" incident I experienced.

Which Holster Retention Level is Best for You?

by Drew Beatty

To safely carry a pistol, whether open or concealed, you need a proper holster. There are numerous holster manufacturers selling nearly limitless styles and designs. One important key to having a proper holster for your needs is the idea of retention — meaning in what manner and how well the holster retains the pistol — and how quickly you are able to draw from the holster.

4 Hard Truths of Defensive Shooting

by Keith Coniglio

"Defensive gun use." It's a pretty dry, almost clinical phrase, but with heavy connotations. While there are many reasons to own a gun, those of us who carry them do so as insurance against violent attack. Unfortunately, many of us haven't considered the reality of that kind of violence, confusing recreational or competitive shooting with the reality of an aggressive stranger suddenly closing into "bad breath distance," with intent to do bodily harm.

The Lethal Force Triad: Ability, Opportunity and Jeopardy

by Drew Beatty

Use of deadly force is determined to be justifiable or not in the eyes of the courts and/or a jury. Of the many factors that come into play regarding use of force, the determination whether the use of force was justified or not, depends on the defendant demonstrating that three criteria were present in the incident: Ability, Opportunity and Jeopardy, or AOJ.